Original scientific paper

Social Teachings of the Church and Awareness of the Principle of Subsidiarity between Croatian Citizens (and Believers)

Vladimir Dugalić orcid.org/0000-0002-0637-8077 ; Catholic Faculty of Theology in Djakovo, University of Josip Juraj Strossmayer, Djakovo, Croatia
Damir Mravunac ; Centre for Promotion of the Social Teaching of the Church of the Croatian Bishop's Conference, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

The article analyses responses given by Croatian citizens (and believers) to principles of the social teachings of the Church and especially of the principles of subsidiarity as set in questions 49-51 in a questionnaire as part of the project »Subsidiarity in Croatian society«. The results undoubtedly indicate the fact that Catholic faithful are not informed with the content of social teachings of the Church - (according to the results, 75.8% were not aware and only 21.9% were), and that they are mostly identified with the Church's charity activities. Only 15.6% of those questioned knew the meaning of subsidiarity and their knowledge was based on discussions in Croatian media by experts, while 83.6% had never heard of that notion. The reasons for this situation are multi-faceted -from that of mental legacy to the fact that the social teachings of the Church have not managed to exit Church space. This means that the Catholic Church should be seeking a new space and way to mediate the contents of social teachings of the Church as well as educating its believers about the notion of subsidiarity. With the faithful who regularly communicate with the parish community (20 - 25%), it is necessary to develop forms of personal responsibility and social spirituality relating to the proclamation and Catechesis whereas difficulties are encountered when trying to educate those faithful (about 60%) who are distanced from the Church while at the same time being important factors of social life. It is therefore a priority to exit Church space and penetrate civil society - e.g. setting up Catholic electronic media, Catholic schools and educational institutions and empowering religious organisations as well as vital personal and other relevant contact with the faithful who are distanced from the Church - these usually being the most educated sections of the population who are statistically most engaged in society yet the most distanced from the Church. The youth has to be a privileged target group for pastoral work and education in social teachings of the Church.

Keywords

social teachings of the Church; subsidiarity; Croatian society; Catholic Church; social pastoral service; youth; highly-educated

Hrčak ID:

76014

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/76014

Publication date:

11.1.2012.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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